Page 64 of Torin and His Oath
But totally undone.
I was soweak that my thighs shook.
I was sleeping on and off, on Torin’s knee, with his hand resting on my shoulder, reminding me that he was there. The room grew very dim, a few flickering candles on the table.
I heard whispers, and made out Madame Agnes telling Torin that he needed to go eat, that she would watch over me.
I don’t want you to go.
She said, “Madame Lexi, ye must let yer husband go tae eat. He has been tendin’ ye for hours and needs some sustenance.”
I nodded, lifted my head from his knee and crawled onto the bed. “It’s really cold.”
Torin pulled the covers over me and tucked them in. He knelt beside the bed and smoothed back my hair. “I will be downstairs eatin’. I will return verra soon. Daena be scared.”
I looked at his worried face, lit by the tiny flickering flame of the candle. “I won’t. I’m all better, that was the end of it.”
He stroked my hair again, looking into my eyes, and repeated, “Daena be scared.”
He pushed up from the side of the bed and left the room with Dude following.
He wasn’t gone long.I only had time to spew into the bowl once.
I was sprawled on the cold floor with a hand on the bowl when he returned. “Och, ye were in the fine bed and look at ye.”
“It’s too much, Torin. I don’t want to do it anymore.”
“I ken.” He lowered himself onto the floor and lifted my head to bring it to his lap again. He spread the blanket over me.
He placed his hand on my cheek. “Ye are too warm, Princess, I am worried on ye.”
I raised up, groaning, and fell toward the bowl, retching a few times. I wiped my mouth with my arm.
“No more.” I was shivering.
He picked me up, carried me to the bed, and covered me with the blanket again.
I said, “You keep doing that.”
“Aye, ye keep climbin’ from the bed so I hae tae keep puttin’ ye back.”
“I’m thirsty.”
He held a mug of ale and I took a sip. I lay back and looked at him with a frown.
He had a lock of hair hanging forward on his cheek, so I reached out and tucked it behind his ear. “Did you get bannocks and cheese?”
“Nae, they dinna hae it.”
“Aw, I’m sorry. But you were fed?”
“Aye, I hae been fed, Princess. Thank ye for askin’ after it.”
Then I moaned and climbed from the bed again, to heave once more.
Finished, I swiped my hair from my eyes. He asked, “Ye want the bed?”
“No... not sure that was it...”
